TÛRANOR PlanetSolar: Eco Catamaran Destined as a Luxury Yacht

TûRANOR PlanetSolar reminds me that visionaries of the past, like Isaac Asimov, were closer to future reality than fiction. The goal of the PlanetSolar team is to pioneer the circumnavigation of the globe in a boat driven exclusively by solar power.

Even before embarkation from Monaco on September 27, the TûRANOR PlanetSolar team made impressive advancements in the production and application of composite materials and structures, and the production and storage of solar energy, that will likely set a precedent for future yacht design.

The vision of the project is to enlighten the public about the possibilities and importance of renewable energy as well as practical applications in the increasingly eco conscious marine industry. According to the company, construction costs were a primary consideration, and builds will be kept reasonable and competitive through the use of materials and technologies available today, which have the potential to be mass-produced.

PlanetSolar, which will be home to four sailors during the circumnavigation, is designed as a luxury catamaran yacht with a crew of six, and can accommodate up to forty people while in port. The vessel is presently at the Beach Marina in Miami after cruising 61 days 34 minutes from Monaco with stops in Las Palmas and St. Maarten.

The TÛRANOR PlanetSolar website is informative and fun, with many features including; Google Earth RSS-Feed, live current boat location, photos and logbook. There is even a Virtual Regatta that lets you be the skipper!

If you are interested in eco-friendly charter yachting, Boatbookings.com offers pertinent information that can be found at: Green Chartering – Low Carbon Emissions Charter

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A Gift for the Yachtsman Who Has Everything: Adopt a Sea Turtle and Track Its Movements via the Web

Here’s a novel idea for gifting the precocious child or the yachtsman who has everything.

SEATURTLE.ORG has tax-deductible donation packages that let you adopt a satellite-tagged sea turtle, or other animal, whose movements you can track through their website.

Seaturtle.org and partner organizations have fitted sea turtles, whale sharks, sea lions, even a peregrine falcon with high-tech data transmitters that relay information about their location via satellite. The information helps researchers better understand animal behavior and improve laws and regulations that protect endangered species.

Visit the SEATURTLE.ORG adoption page to view the names, nationalities and descriptions of many adorable animals like Jah, an Argentinean loggerhead or Lucy Jack, a flatback from northern Australia, or Navajo, a green turtle from New England. Seaturtle.org also has a shop with an assortment of items including apparel embroidered with the seaturtle.org logo, cute stuffed animals, even sea turtle tattoos. If you wish to adopt an animal as a holiday gift international orders must be placed by December 11 and US orders by December 17 for a timely delivery.

Visit Boatbookings.com for information on eco-friendly chartering at Green Chartering!

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Boatbookings Onboard Oceanco 168 LAZY Z: The Quintessential Luxury Family Charter Yacht

What makes a truly superlative family charter is the combination of a magnificent luxury yacht and a long term, professional yet playful crew. LAZY Z not only meets but also exceeds these criteria.

Oceanco built LAZY Z in 1997, but you’d never guess her age because this stunning superyacht is graced with a timeless beauty of design and blessed by an owner and crew who keep her meticulously maintained, from the smallest knob on up.

Interior spaces are furnished with an elegant simplicity of design, featuring plush carpeting, supple leather upholstery and rich Indonesian bubinga hardwood against a backdrop of soft silk paneling. The palette of warm wood tones and golden hues is relaxing and inviting. The wide central staircase is a stunning and unusual architectural feature.

LAZY Z has accommodations for twelve guests in 6 spacious staterooms with a special cabin designed to delight children, right down to the teddy bears. With a 29 foot beam the true full width master suite, from porthole to porthole, is wonderfully spacious and filled with natural light. There is also a dedicated gym and the elegant observation lounge is an inspiration.

Even the radio room on LAZY Z is impressive, housing racks of state of the art equipment, including the Kaleidescape entertainment system storing over 3,000 movies, a capacity that exceeds yachts twice the size of LAZY Z.

We are not surprised when we are told that there is nothing on the bridge that is more than 12 months old. The CCTV was upgraded ten months ago; two new radars were upgraded eight months ago. The Servowatch integrated ship control system, which monitors the main engines, generators, bilges, water tight doors, all of those sort of systems onboard, is just eight months old. From comfortable banquette seating guests can peer at the high tech electronic chart system and the forward facing sonar, which gives a 2D display of what the seabed is like ahead.

Out on deck, LAZY Z has fabulous seating under a huge shade awning, and surrounding the Jacuzzi pool, which is only a couple of years old, there’s lots of sunbathing and, of course, you cannot miss the slide. This is a huge hit with all charter guests who, we are told, opt to use it every day. The owner of the boat is 72 years old and he uses the slide, preferring to go down backwards or head first. It’s simply awesome, they’ve had girls as young as three slide down it.

It is quite evident why LAZY Z is a very busy yacht featuring charters in the Caribbean and Mediterranean directed toward young families who, at the end of their charter, eagerly book a slot for the following year. The youthful and energetic crew boasts a guarantee that if you are a charter client on this boat you’ll be back again next year. We have no doubt.

Boatbookings.com features an extensive selection of charter yachts for every destination, type of clientele and information on family charters. Here are a couple of helpful links:

Chartering with Children,  Super and Mega Luxury Yacht Charter

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Boatbookings Onboard Luxury Superyacht Trinity 164 MINE GAMES: Simply Magnificent

MINE GAMES is a luxury yacht that is stunningly chic. The owner succeeded his goal to design a yacht for every occasion from formal to playful. Beautifully appointed exterior spaces give way to rich and refined interiors with an Old World splendor that allows guests to relax in regal comfort.

Boatbookings was welcomed onboard MINE GAMES while the yacht was docked in Fort Lauderdale. We walked up the passerelle passing the eye-catching two-person submarine housed on the swim platform. The Captain is licensed to operate the sub and indulge charter guests in an unparalleled underwater experience.

Entering the main salon we gazed with admiration at the exquisitely hand painted mural ceilings and plush furnishings. Beneath our feet, intricate inlays of stone and marble graced the sole. Open architecture allows an uninterrupted flow between the lounge and formal dining areas creating a convivial feel. Traditional interiors feature raised paneling in American cherry, maple burl and figured bubinga delicately hand polished to a rich luster.

The owner specified attention to detail and renowned designer Patrick Knowles succeeded in creating a grand masterpiece. Everywhere you look onboard MINE GAMES there is something to marvel at. There are hand painted scenes overhead in the main salon, dining salon and skylounge. Even the main-deck guest bathroom features a delightful mural of the Italian countryside.

The centerpiece of the split-level master stateroom is the king size bed that faces a panoramic arc of windows. It is easy to imagine lounging on the bed, cushioned by the array of soft pillows, dreamily watching your approach into port. The master stateroom also includes an office space, cozy lounging area and lavish his and her facilities. Three of the spacious guest staterooms have king size beds, vanities and double sinks. The fourth stateroom has twin beds with Pullman.

The skylounge is a comfortably posh place to gather and enjoy expertly prepared cocktails at the stylish green onyx bar, or view a new release on the 60-inch Plasma TV with surround sound. The sundeck is designed for outdoor entertaining. The bar is positioned next to the eight-person Jacuzzi, so a refreshing beverage is always within reach. There is a voluminous sunpad, comfortable lounge chairs, barbeque, dining seating for 12 and a Plasma Sat-TV for enjoyment in the sun or beneath the stars.

MINE GAMES is available for charter in the Bahamas and is helicopter friendly if charter clients choose to fly in. This luxury superyacht offers charter guests the best of everything and then some. Check out the video: Video Tour

Boatbookings.com features extensive information on superyacht charters to international yachting destinations. Here are a couple of links to help begin your exploration: Charter Super Yachts, Mega Yachts …, Bahamas Yacht Charter

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Yachting Destination Bimini Bay Resort Joins Shark-Free Intitiative

The island of Bimini in the Bahamas has long been a paradise for yachtsmen, sport fishermen and water sports enthusiasts. Reputedly discovered by Ponce de Leon in his quest for the Fountain of Youth, Bimini remains an unspoiled place of beauty and serenity.

Bimini Bay Resort and Marina, an elegant complex that welcomes charter guests, is the third resort in Bimini to join the Shark-Free Marinas initiative. A popular destination and leading employer on the island, they hope to educate both tourists and locals with a goal to raise awareness of the need to protect Bimini shark populations.

Shark-Free Marinas participate in a voluntary program that prohibits fisherman from bringing sharks they have caught into their facilities. Participating members support tagging programs and promote catch-and-release techniques. The aim is to reduce the mortal take of sharks and encourage responsible use of the ocean.

The world-renowned Bimini Biological Field Station is a place of interest for those concerned with the health of the oceans. Known as Sharklab, the research facility located on South Bimini studies the many species of shark in the unique habitat of the surrounding waters.

Bimini Bay Resort and Marina welcomes luxury charter yachts to dock and take advantage of their four-star facilities and amenities. For additional destination and yacht charter information Boatbookings.com is an excellent resource. Here is a helpful link: Bahamas Yacht Charter

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